Holtzman Challenged On Claim He Aided Refugee

April 23, 1986|by PAUL E. CARPENTER, The Morning Call

Portions of a news release from congressional candidate Marc Holtzman, in which he takes credit for helping a Vietnamese refugee come to the UnitedStates, have been disputed by a U.S. State Department official and others involved in the case.

Holtzman's news release, issued yesterday, also demeaned the role of his political opponent, incumbent Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-11th District, in the effort to help the refugee.

But Damon Lebrea, a refugee affairs officer in the State Department, said yesterday that he had "worked with a congressman's office on that ... Kanjorski."

Lebrea was asked if Holtzman had anything to do with the process.

"No," he replied.

Lebrea referred further inquiries to a State Department press aide, who did not answer telephone calls yesterday afternoon.

Holtzman is running unopposed in next month's Republican primary in a bid to take Kanjorski's seat in Congress. The 11th District includes Carbon and seven other northeastern Pennsylvania counties.

Holtzman's news release involved Vu Thi Tuyet, a Vietnamese woman who was scheduled to arrive at Harrisburg International Airport last night to be reunited with her son, Du Van Do, now a Shamokin, Northumberland County, businessman.

"Congressional candidate Marc L. Holtzman today announced the acquisition of a visa for a Vietnamese mother of an American citizen in northeastern Pennsylvania," said the release, which was first given by telephone to the News Item newspaper in Shamokin yesterday morning. Its contents were confirmed later in the day by Holtzman's office.

"Holtzman brought the matter to the vice president's attention on March 5. As a result, the State Department notified Vice President Bush that Mrs. Tuyet's visa was approved on March 12," the release said.

Richard Morgan, a Shamokin resident who worked for a year to help Du bring his mother to the United States, was also mentioned in Holtzman's release.

"We could not have been successful without thehelp of Marc Holtzman," the news release quoted Morgan as saying.

"I don't think I said that," Morgan said yesterday in a telephone interview.

Morgan said he had been working on the matter with Kanjorski since June of last year.

"Kanjorski did a yeoman's job . . . he contacted many people in the State Department," Morgan said.

Morgan said he also wrote to Holtzman and several others, including actress Jane Fonda, in his efforts to help Du. He said he deeply appreciated the efforts of everyone involved.

"I have no quarrel with Marc (Holtzman) . . . but Kanjorski did a lot," Morgan said.

Holtzman's news release had put a different light on Morgan's dealings with Kanjorski.

"Morgan said he contacted Mr. Kanjorski regarding the problem but (Kanjorski) has not been successful in solving it, except for providing information," the release said.

The release quoted Holtzman campaign caseworker Randa Fahmy as saying the refugee matter "is just one more example of the clout and extraordinary high- level contacts Marc can provide should he be elected congressman."

Joe McMonigle, a Holtzman aide, specified that Holtzman used his clout with Vice President Bush to help Du and his mother.

The vice president's office referred questions on the matter to press aides, who did not return telephone calls.

McMonigle, confronted with the statements from Morgan and the State Department, said yesterday he did not think they refuted the news release.

"We're not saying we're totally responsible (for bringing Mrs. Tuyet from Vietnam) ... At least we played a part," he said.

Morgan said Du left Vietnam when it fell to rebel forces in 1975, and eventually settled in Shamokin. He said Du now owns the My Place pizza shop in Shamokin.

Du learned a year ago that hismother was suffering from diabetes in Vietnam, Morgan said, and with Morgan's help he began corresponding with Kanjorski's office on June 18, 1985. Morgan said letters were also written to several people - including Holtzman and Kanjorski - in February.

He said it was Kanjorski who confirmed early in March that Mrs. Tuyet was on a list of individuals who were being permitted to leave Vietnam, and last week it was Kanjorski who notified him and Du that she was on her way.